David Bollier

The great challenge, then, is to learn how to see, name, and reclaim the commons as significant forces in life – a powerful social phenomenon that is not just at play in the Global South, but everywhere.

One of the most singular and accomplished commons I’ve ever encountered is Cecosesola, a federation of Venezuelan cooperatives. The remarkable federation artfully manages multiple ventures as commons while deeply immersed within a system of capitalist markets.

The commons is essentially a parallel economy and social order that quietly affirms that another world is possible. And more: we can build it ourselves, now.

The Open Source Seed Initiative, founded in 2012, has been a key vehicle and voice in reclaiming the right to share seeds and strengthening all the benefits that flow from seed-sharing: healthier soils, empowered farmers and communities, biodiversity, more robust seed innovation.

A commons is a bounded community of shared purpose that stewards its collective wealth with self-devised rules of care, fairness, and mutual benefit. The history of humanity over millennia shows that this is a default social form.

In its many projects, Shareable has shown just how diverse, creative, and consequential organized sharing can be. The power of bottom-up collaboration focused on specific needs is powerful. When modest infrastructures are created to empower people to contribute their talents, some amazing things happen.